Our pre-college programs are designed to be immersive, meaning that a student’s experience extends far outside of the classroom. RMP scholars are considered registered UC Santa Barbara students during the summer session, providing them with access to valuable resources and amenities that support a transformative experience.
Campus Amenities
Pre-college participants benefit from access to a large number of campus facilities, including library and research resources. Additionally, students can use the University Recreation Center (known as the RecCen), which features weight rooms, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, and squash courts, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and a track.
Extracurricular Activities
The lasting impact of the program also extends to the activities specifically designed to allow students to network with academic professionals and equally talented peers from all over the world. Such activities include:
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Development Workshops: receive first-hand advice from researchers about undergraduate and graduate studies.
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Drop-In Hours: access additional support from program staff to improve your professional skills during the program.
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Friday Mixers: unwind from a busy week in a space for building community with peers from diverse backgrounds.
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Social Events: balance your academic experience with game nights, tutorials, watch parties, and more!
These activities foster friendships, encourage collaboration, and build community that endures long after the program ends.
Program Options
Commuter Option: A commuter student travels to campus daily by car or public transportation from as far north as Lompoc and as far south as Ventura. This option is only available to local students. Commuter students will participate in all on-campus programming, including social activities.
Residential Option: A very important component of your pre-college experience is life outside the classroom—living and learning with others. A residential student lives on campus under the supervision of Summer Discovery who provides a suite of activities that foster the development of friendships with students of various cultures, lifestyles, and beliefs.
Residential Student Living Arrangements
Move-In: June 21, 2026
Move-Out: August 1, 2026
Students live in Santa Cruz Residence Hall, which is located near academic and recreational facilities. It has beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, campus, mountains, and spacious lawns. The double- and triple-occupancy rooms feature high-speed internet access, ample closet space, wall-to-wall carpeting, and a set of furniture for each student, including beds, study desks and chairs, and dresser drawers.
The residential package includes a meal plan for the De La Guerra dining commons. Their culinary staff prepares food in small batches, keeping dishes fresh at platform stations. Plant-forward dishes are always available, and The Greens salad bar offers different specialty prepared salads each day, locally grown greens, and a healthy variety of organic vegetables.
In addition to campus amenities, residential students will have access to:
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Off-road running trails
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The beach
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A television/DVD lounge
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Residence hall recreation areas
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A laundry room
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Summer Discovery program staff, in an office, open 24/7
